Ah, the movie sequel, the scourge of cinephiles the world over.
It’s all about greed … or desperation … or a total lack of ideas.
But films like “Godfather Part II” and, years later, “Toy Story 2,” prove sequels don’t have to be soul-draining experiences.
The second “Story,” now available in Blu-ray, illustrates the technological leaps made between the 1995 original and the 1999 follow-up.
But what matters is the sophisticated storytelling on display again, as well as the triumphant return of characters we couldn’t get enough of the first time ’round.
“Toy Story 2″ deposits us back in Andy’s bedroom, a humble nook Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and their fellow toys call home.
Andy’s Mom is gearing up for a yard sale, and one of the lesser used toys is marked for a quick sale. That sends Woody into action, but while freeing his fellow toy he manages to get stolen by a chubby collector (voiced by Wayne Knight) who needs him to complete a valuable set.
So, it’s up to Buzz and co. to rescue Woody and restore order to the toy universe.
“Toy Story 2″ manages to nail every essential element of a worthy sequel. It advances the story in meaningful ways – Andy won’t be a child forever … and then what? And, more importantly, it shoehorns in a Big Question for audiences to ponder – is a peaceful life with no surprises truly worth it compared to one filled with adventure and the potential for loss?
Pretty heady stuff for a children’s film, but the “Toy Story” features aren’t just animated sweets.
The sequel’s animators render far more realistic humans than in the first film, and other minor details – like the toys’ reflections on a store’s tile floor – hint at the visuals soon to be unlocked by Pixar artists.
The new characters fit right in with the “Toy” regulars, from Stinky Pete (Kelsey Grammer) to the feisty Jessie (Joan Cusack).
The Blu-ray extras include a director’s commentary, the further adventures of Buzz Lightyear, a peek at the tech wizards who made the movie possible as well as extras imported from the DVD version.
The best bit tells how “Toy Story 2″ got deleted thanks to someone punching in the wrong code. Good thing a Pixar worker had copied the film onto her home computer so she could work remotely and spend time with her newborn son, Eli.
The biggest extra of all with “Toy Story 2″ is the Blu-ray technology – the film looks flat-out fabulous in high definition.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Too true about TS 2 being an excellent sequel – why does Pixar consistently weave movie magic with quality (and audience-attracting) stories when so many other studios do not?
D.
That’s the question of the year … if not the decade. Their track record is amazing … even their misses are chock full of magic.
Dagnabbit,
Toto is right. The question of the decade. EVERY film is amazing and enjoyable.